What's on this week: 25 November-1 December

Consistently on many top 10 lists of the best Christmas markets in the world, Winter Wonders is back with its 16th edition. All the old favourites are back but there are also new attractions such as Impulsion: giant, luminous and sound-animated seesaws. Equipped with lights and speakers, these seesaws will be activated when ridden from both ends. They will then emit melodies accompanied with a luminous, vibrating wave. Then there is Felix De Laet, better known as Lost Frequencies, who will not only be this year's creator of the sound and light show but will also be giving a special live showcase concert on 30 November on the Grand Place. Also new this year is the Atelier Leffe, 120m2 of brewing information and beer tasting in the centre of the the Fishmarket. The Halles Saint-Géry join the Winter Wonders with BX-MAS: the Brussels creative Xmas Market. Photographs, installations, collages, drawings, creations, sculptures and videos will take you on a winter's tour of Brussels' abounding arts scene, the products of which will also be on sale. The Halles will also host two special editions of the Brussels Vintage Market. At La Tentation there will be a dinner circus put on by some of the Brussels' best circus arts performers with food by top chefs. La Tentation will also be offering Sunday family brunch every week. The guest of honour this year is Japan - and Saint Catherine's Church will be the backdrop for a new video-mapping spectacle entitled Origami Lights. The opening extravaganza which includes an amazing futuristic-medieval "Caravan of Strangeness" starts at 18.00 on 25 November on the Grand-Place.
25 November-1 January, across Brussels city centre

Brussels Cinema Days is a celebration of contemporary European film, bringing artists from across the continent to show their work and share their ideas. In addition to nearly 20 screenings crammed into four days, the festival also hosts the European Film Forum, a professional event with panel discussions and workshops. The whole thing opens with the premiere of Belgian director Stephan Streker’s much anticipated third feature film. Noces follows a Belgo-Pakistani teenager as she attempts to reconcile family tradition – in the form of an arranged marriage – with her Western lifestyle.
30 November-4 December, Bozar, Brussels

The Instituto Italiano di Cultura of Brussels is presenting the second edition of its Italian documentary film festival. Ten films are in competition at Italia In Doc and they represent a wide range of subject matter and filmic styles offering a composite image of contemporary Italy, from the "Baby Bosses" of the Neapolitan mob to Muslim prisoners in Bologna to a chilling portrait of the last days of a patient in a psychiatric hospital entirely consisting of video surveillance footage, to the amazing transformation of a female fashion model into a Thai boxer, to mention just four of the films.
24-27 November, Istituto Italiano di Cultura de Bruxelles, Rue de Livourne 38, free

Usher in the holiday season with four nights of festive shopping, entertainment and tasty treats in Brussels' popular Sablon district. Stores are open late, and the square will be decorated with Christmas trees and lights. Covered tent with champagne and cocktail bar, live music and free carriage rides.
24-27 November, Grand Sablon, Brussels; free

Winner of the Fringe First Award in Edinburgh, Sabrina Mahfouz, British-Egyptian writer, performer, poet and playwright will be the main guest during KVS' SLOW No1. SLOW stands for Slam Our World and an international guest will be invited to each SLOW session. Following several weeks’ residency in Brussels, he or she will share the KVS stage with local artists, in an attempt to capture the colourful, multi-faceted soul of the city in verse. In Dutch, English and French.
25-26 November, with Zulu Nation concert after 26th performance, KVS, Brussels

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels are celebrating their 215th anniversary with a day of free admission and activities for all ages: guided tours, drawing sessions, a chance to peek into the store rooms and restoration workshop, live music and more.
27 November 11.00-18.00, Rue de la Régence 3, Brussels; free

For its third edition, the festival of rebel beers and wines (Vini Birre Ribelli) is taking over the prestigious Citroën garage at Yser before it gets transformed into Brussels' Museum of Contemporary Art. The show is certified a zero-waste event. As it was for the first two editions, the exhibition is completely devoted to craft and traditional products, organic and sustainable and mostly natural, uniting the alternative worlds of beer and wine as well as food that is good, clean and fair, featuring 160 wineries, 29 breweries, 13 food stands and 12 other stands.
26-27 November, Citroën Garage, Place de l'Yser 7, Brussels

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, there's a fun and informative world wine tasting with finger foods with all profits go to the United Nations Children’s Fund. Reserve at expats@unicef.be
29 November 19.15, Mig’s World Wines, Chaussée de Charleroi 43, Brussels

Theatregoers may already be familiar with Thornton Wilder’s play ‘Our Town’, which was written in 1937 and tells the story of the citizens of a fictional small town in New Hampshire called Grover’s Corner. ‘Our Town’ is the first production of the newly created Brussels English Actors Theatre (BEAT). Acting coach, John Flanders, and 20 of his international students, will take to the stage to bring Thornton’s metatheatrical three-act play to life.
24-27 November, Flanders Acting Studio, Rue Walcourt 25, Anderlecht

Meanwhile BLOC, the Brussels Light Opera Company, present their festive performance, A Christmas Carol, based on the classic Charles Dickens tale at Auderghem Cultural Centre from 24-27 November. Read more about the performance here…

Lawrence Hass is a philosopher turned magician and magic teacher who suggests that far from tricking people and deceiving them, magic is an art form that can be a force for good and lift the spirit. This, he says, helps explain why there have been magicians in every recorded human culture. The American will be performing his magic for one night only in Brussels next Saturday.
26 November 19.30, Op-Weule Cultural Centre, €29